Virgin Atlantic president Sir Richard Branson celebrated Virgin Atlantic’s 25th birthday this year by launching a new airline V Australia, and throwing an extravagant launch party in Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard in LA.

Branson has embarked on an eight-day journey around the world to mark the launch of the newest Virgin airline V Australia.

He started his trip by flying from London to Hong Kong and will travel to Sydney and Los Angeles before eventually returning to London.

Sir Richard said: “The launch of V Australia joins up Sydney and LA, destinations currently served by Virgin Atlantic from London and it means consumers can travel on Virgin globally for the first time. It’s a unique moment in Virgin’s history.”

Celebrity guests who attended the launch party included the likes of Kristin Davis, Julian McMahon, Holly Valance and Marisa Tomei, with Branson touching down in Los Angeles on the airline’s inaugural flight.